Means for controlling the operation of electrolytic condensers.



. R. D. MERSHON. MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSERS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28- I917:

1,265,353. Patented May 7,1918.

RALPH D. MERSHON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSIiRS.

Specification of Letters lat-ent.

Patented May '7, 1918.

Application filed May 26, 1917. Serial No. 171,206.

To all whom it may concern: lie it known that I, RALPH D. Mnnsnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Controlling the Operation of Electrolytic Condensers, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

This invention relates to the operation of electrolytic condensers, and its chief object, briefly stated, is to provide a system in which it is impossible to connect the con denser terminals to the alternating current circuit in which the condenser is to be used, until the condenser has been suitably charged by means 'of direct 'current Another object is to provide automatic means for opening the alternating current circuit to the condenser (a) whenever the unidirectional charging current falls to a. value insufficient to keep the condenser properly charged; (6) whenever the alternating current voltage falls to a. predetermined minimum value; and (0) whenever the alternating current impressedon the co denser rises to a predetermined excessive value. To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described.

One embodiment of the invention is illus trated diagrammatically in th annexed drawin in which Figure 1 show "the complcte system and Fig. 2-illustrates a detail of the controller.

10 designates an electrolytic condenser (shown in plan) consisting of a pair of electrodes 11 coated with the usual dielectric films and immersedin a suitable electrolyte in the vessel 12. The electrode 13 is of car bon or any other suitable material which does not take on a film of the kind indicated, and is provided for the urpose of leading charging current out of t 1e condenser. The charging current which is unidirectional, is provided by a by an A. C. motor 15, the two constituting a motor-generator set. The motor may be of any convenient type and may be rov1ded with starting means (not. shown) if necessary or desirable. The primary of the A. C. motor is indicated at 16, and in the present embodiment of the invention is conveniently utilized as a transformer, its middle or neutral point being connected by wires 17, '13, 19 to the two contacts 20, 21, while its termimotor 15.

l). C. generator 14, driven nals are connected by wires 22, 23, to the arms 24, 25, of the controller and circuitbreaker 26. The A. C. circuit in which the condenser is to be used is indicated by the terminals 27, 28, the first of which is connected by wires 29, 30, to the controller contacts 31,32, while the second is connected by wires 33 and 34 through an over-load-release relay 35, to the controller contacts 36, 37.

-'The condenser electrodes are connected to the controller arms 38, 39, by wires 38, 39*.

,One terminal of the D. C. generator 14 is connected by wire 40 to the non-filmingcon denser-charging electrode 13. From wire 40 a. tap 41 is brought out to windin 42 of the D. C.A. C., relay 43, which winding is connected by wire 44 to'the other terminal of the D. C. generator. The latter terminal is also connected, by wire 45,10 wire 17, which, as stated above, is connected to the neutral point'of the field 18 of the A; C.

From wire 23 a tap 46 is brought out to contact 47 of the relay 43, while wire 22 is connected to the other contact, 48, through the lower winding 49 of the interlocking device 50, b wires 51', 52. The winding 49 isthlis bri ged across the terminals of the auto-transformer (and motor-primary) 16 through the contacts, 48of the D. C.

. 60, G1,.which are fulcrumed at, the, right of the center offgravity ofthe system ,so that the tendenc of the levers :is to swing by gravity int edirection of the arrow. The pointed ends of the lovers cooperate with a dog 62, pivoted in a slot in the end of the controller or circuit-breaker link 26, which do is normally held against a stop 63, Fig. 2, y alight spring 64.

. The armature 65 of the solenoid 56 is not attached to the extension of armature 59, but merely rests on top of the same.

vThe controller is shown in its initial posi' tion in Fig. 1. When it is shifted one step to the right by the lever or handle 65 the arms 24 and 25 are brought over upon confrom the tacts 31, 36, but arms 38, 39 are still out of engagement with contacts 20, 21. Alternating current now flows through wires 22, 23, and primary 16, and the A. C. motor starts. This starts the generator 14, which sends direct current through wire 44, winding 42 of relay 43, and wire 41 back to the generator; and at the same time alternating current flows from the leads 2'2, 23, throng wires 46, 51, and 54, 55, to the winding 53. As long as the alternating current is sufiicient to hold the armature 66 on contacts 47, 48, against the pull of the D. C. winding 42, the solenoid 49 is energized and armature 59 is held down, thereby holding the point of lever 61 in the path of the lower end of dog 62.

The controller is now shifted another step, thereby bringing arms 38, 39 upon con-' thereby dep 44, 45, 17, 18 and 19, contacts 20, 21, controller arms 38, 39 and wires 38, 39, to electrodes 11, thence through the electrolyte to thechargmg or non-filming electrode 13 right, closing contacts 47, 48, and reener izing solenoid 49. The levers 60, 61 are t 1118 swung up, carry' :the point of the former out from behind Eog 62, and allowing the sprin 67 to retract the controller to its initia position, thereby throwing all current oil the system.

On the other hand, assuming the controller to be stillin its fourth position, suppose that the A. C. voltage should fall to zero or other predetermined value. In that case solenoid 56, normally energized b current from leads 22, 23, through wires 46, 51, 57, 58, would allow its armature 65 to fall,

ressing armature 59 and swinging the omts of locking levers 60, 61, upward. 0g 62 is thus ireed from the former lever and sp g6! retracts the controller to initial position. v 4

Or, so posei that an excessive voltage is impresse upon the system or for an cause an excessive current flows through the'condensen, In that'case the over-load -relay 35, connected in series with terminal 28by wire-33, is energized, and draws up and through wire 40 to the ne ative side of the generator, thus charging e -condenser. When the direct current through the windtermined ratio to the alternating current through winding 53 (at which point the condenser is fully charged)/the armature of the relay is drawn to the left, thereb'yopendown as it passes the point of lever 60 and, ,2; immediately snapping u behind thesame, i thus holdin the contro er in its final po-' sition. In t is position the arms 24, 25 are current from the terminals 27, 28 isnow impressed u on the condenser electrodes through lead; 38, 39 and also upon the A. C. motor primary as before. At the saine time, direct current generator 14 flows through 44, 45 an 17 to the neutral point of pritlirough wires 22, 23,

its armature 68, thus bridging the contacts 68, 70. ,This connects the wires 71, 72 across contacts 47, 548. fjjsolenoid. 491s, thereby energized by current from lead 23, wires 46,

ing 42 of relay 43 reaches a certain prede- 72,armature,(SE-wires 71' and "49, and wire51 to lead 22.

72,windin Armature 5 isthus'drawn down, releasing the dog 62 and permitting. the-spring 67 to retract the controller to ing contacts 47, 48, and dee'nergizing sole- {can it be movedfart er towar cause of the stop From'th o f thatfit is impo iile e initial position.

When the s stern is in normal operation the controller is lockedjn its fourth position, as explained'above, and cannot be retracted directly to 7 initial 'ositioni b hand. Nor

the right heu bydep s ".(by i anyjsuituble 65 1i armature 59 manually other means, notjshownyithe point-of lever 60'is raised, {thereb 5 the controller as a alreadydescri. dfwhereupon.thescontfoller still on contacts 31, 36, but arms 38, 39 have been carried to contact 32, 37;" Alternating can be carried baclrto initial position-the states, 41 tojimpress alternating currentjn onfthefcondenseriuntil the latter char e :1 j(2)that,thechargezjamain grained, I driven byj wanton-which receives its ,from the h5g0. source;

mary 16, thence through leads 22, 23, controller arms 24, 25, contacts 31, 36, leads 80, 34, contacts 32, 37, and leads. 38', 39",to' the electrodes 11, thereby keeping'the condenser y; irecti'i currenti from ai' ),that ifltheimidirectionallcurrent should vfall toQaxfvalue in-t lsuificien't to'maintain the chargeon the con- I generatorv L current denser the ,alternatin current circuit to the condenser-is automatically broken;t( 4 that rises to an excessive value the 'A. O, circuit is automation broken; and (5)that-if the A. C. voltage -mum,vfor example zero, as when current is cut off from the induction motor or other apparatus with which the condenser is used,the circuit to the condenser is broken.

if .the alternatingcurrenfon the con onset alls'to a predetermined minicondenser is charged If desired, a fan 73 may be provided, condenser from the alternating current cirdriven from the motor-generator set, for excuit whenever the aforesaid charging curample by mounting it directly upon the 'rent falls to a predetermined minimum. shaft 74 thereof, to blow air upon the con- 6. The combination with an electrolytic denser to cool the latter. condenser, and means shiftable at will to It is to be understood that the invention connect the condenser with an alternating is not limited to the form herein specifically current circuit and automatically shiftable illustrated and described, but can be cmto disconnect ,the condenser from said cirbodicd in other forms without departure cuit of means ;for deliverin unidirectional from its spirit as defined by the appended charging current to the con enser to char e claims. the same, mechanism for-docking shiftab e I claim means with the condenser connected to the 1. The combination with an electrolytic alternating current circuit, and means opercondenser, and means for connecting the ating to unlock the shiftable means when condenser with an alternating currentv circuit, of means for impressing unidirectional a predetermined value; an thereb permitcharging current upon the condenser, and ting the shiftable means to be shi ted autoautomatic means preventing actuation of the I matically to disconnect the condenser fro: first-named means to connect 'the condenser the alternatin' current 'circuit. to the alternating current circuit until the 7. The com inationnwith an electrolytic by the unidirectional current. v v i a. =41 5 same 'with an alternating'current circuit, of

2. The combination with an electrolytic "means fordelivering unidirectional chargcondenser, and means operable -to connect -tingcurrent to the ;condenser to charge the the condenser with an alternating current same, and electromagnetic means operating circuit, of a source of direct current for ,.;;both toprevent,connection of'the condenser charging the condenser, mechanism coiSper-to the alternating current circuit until the ating with said means to preventnctuation aforesaid chagrgingjcurrentreaches a predethcreof, and automatic means, dependent tterinined yalilei and tocause disconnection for operation upon a predetermined valueof of thecondenser'from saidlcircuit whenever condenser, and means ,for, connecting the the charging current, for rendering said .theaforsaid charging current falls toaprev v '8. The combination with an electrolytic 3. The combination with an electrolytic condenser, and a. member shiftable at will to condenser, and a controller for connecting connect the condenser to an alternatin curthe condenser with an alternatin current rent circuitaand shiftable automatica y to circuit, of a member initially positioned to disconnect'the condenser from said circuit, prevent actuation of the controller to 0011- of means for sup lying unidirectional nect the condenser to th'ealternating current charging current to t e condenser to charge circuit, means for supplying charging curthe same, mechanism normally preventing rent to'the condenser to c arge the same, and shifting of said member toconnectthe conmeans, operable automatically 1 when the I denser to the saidcircuitand normally pre- 'mechanisn inoperative to prevent actuation determined, value. of the first-named means.

condenser is charged by said charging cur-f rent-in gshiiting ofsaid member to disconrent, to shift said member and thereby per-T nect tli e/condenseflfrom said circuit after mit actuation of the controller; connectio'nwith the latter has been made,

4. The combination with an electrolytic mean's operable. when the aforesaid chargcondenser, and-means ,for 'connei fgthe-ging' Eufiien't, caches predetermined value.

same with an alternating current circult, ofqto aetuatesaid'mechanism and thereby permeans for delivering unidirectional chargmit shifting of said member to connect the mg current to the condenser to charge the condenser with said circuit, and means 0 ersame, and means for breaking connection beable whenever said chargin'g current fal to tween the condenser and the alternating our a predeterminu'lyfllue toact'uate said och rent circuit whenever the unidirectional anism andtherebygpermit automatic 's iftcharging' current falls to a predetermined ing of said" mmber to disconnect the conminimum. j-"'denser-'iroinysaidcircuit. I

5. The "combinationwith an electrolytic, 5,9. b it"on "with an electrolytic condenser, and shiftable means for connect-"1 condenser, and a member shiftable at will to ing the same with an alternating current cit} m condenser With an alternating cuit, of means for ,delirering unidirectional current? circuitflm fl le a t mati ally charging current totthe condenserto keep' to disconnectjthe condenser from said cirthe same charged, mechanism for locking cuit, of means for supplying unidirectional the first-named means with the condenser charging current to the condenser to charge connected to the alternating current circuit, the same, 'inechanism normally preventing and automatic means for unlocking the first shifting of the said meniberjtmconnect the named means to permit disconnection of the condensertq sfiid circuit;audinormally preventing automatic shifting of said member to disconnect the condenser from the circuit; electromagnetic means operating when the charging current reac es a predetermined value, to actuate saidmechanism and thereby permit shifting of-the said-member to connect the condenser with the alternating current circuit, and operating, whenever the charging current falls to a predetermined value, to actuate said mechanism and there by permit automatic shifting of the said member to disconnect the condenser from said circuit; electromagnetic means for actuating said mechanism to ermit automatic shifting of said member, Whenever the volt age in the alternating current circuit falls to a predetermined value, and electromagnetic means for actuating said mechanism to permit automatic shifting of. said mem ber whenever the voltage in said circuit becomes excessive.

10. The combination with a system including an alternating current circuit and an electrolytic condenser connected therewith; of means for supplyin unidirectional charging current to the con enser to charge the same; an automatic circuit-breaker for breaking the connection between the condenser and the alternating current circuit; a locking device normally preventing operation of the circuit-breaker; means to shift the locking device and permit operation of the circuit-breaker, whenever the aforesaid charging current falls to a value; means to shift the locking device and permit operation of the circuit-breaker, whenever the voltage in the alternating current circuit becomes excessive; and means to shift the locking device and permit operation of the circuit-breaker, whenever the voltage in the said circuitjalls to a predetermined value.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

RALPH D. MERSHON.

'redetcrmined 

